The golden square still echoed in Tian Lei's mind as he walked away. He didn't slow down or turn back. The medallion at his waist shone faintly, proof that he had passed.

By the time he left the training grounds behind, the sky was already dimming. Lanterns lit the disciple quarters, their glow falling across the narrow paths. From inside the houses came voices—laughter, arguments, and the steady sound of others practicing. Tian Lei walked calmly, not rushing.

At last, he reached his home.

It was only a small wooden house, more like a hut compared to the larger stone buildings on the slope. The roof leaned a little to one side, patched in places. Inside, there was a single room with a low cot against the wall, a desk marked with burns, and not much else. A side door led to a cramped washroom, simple and rough.

He stepped inside, the faint smell of wood and dust greeting him. For most, the place would seem poor. For Tian Lei, it was enough.

He placed his spear against the wall and sat cross-legged on the floor. The medallion floated into his hand, its golden glow shining softly on his face. He studied it for a while before speaking quietly.

"Soaring Dragon Peak…"

"I wonder what this trial is about?" Tian Lei muttered. "According to Haiyun, each trial is different. No two trials are ever the same. And, there was no mention of Soaring Dragon Peak, which means I got a trial in a completely new Peak."

The Myriad Heaven Sect ruins trial are famous and it is not the first time, thsi ruin was discovered, every hundred years this ruin appear in random part of the world and over time many information have been collected but there was no mention of the Soaring dragon peak, which means its an entirely new peak undiscovered before.

He tapped the medallion, thinking. "Still, judging by how other trials went, I'll probably need to obtain the legacy of the Soaring Dragon Peak. That could mean a weapon, a cultivation art, or something else. These trials usually exist to pass down a legacy—whether it's an item, a technique, or even a complete cultivation method."

"Well, all I can do now is wait." He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. "Right now I'm back to being just a mortal—just another guy in the Body Forging Realm," he mused, tilting his head back. His spirit sense brushed across himself, confirming that his cultivation was sealed.

"Do I really have to cultivate all the way to the top again?" he wondered. Haiyun had once mentioned something about a stairway carved from ancient stone—where those who started from the bottom had to climb to the top to complete a trial. This Trial is probablt also similar to that.

"All I can do is wait," he sighed. He lay back down on the bed. It was nothing more than wooden boards, no cushion at all.

"...To think I'd be sleeping on something like this one day," he muttered with a faint smile. He stared up at the rafters. "At least I still have my Arcane Soul Mark as insurance. Even if my cultivation path here is sealed, I still have magic. With that, I don't have to worry about dying—at least not completely."

The thought eased him. His lips curved in a small smile as his eyes closed, letting sleep take him as there is nothing he can do.

The night passed quietly.

At first there was only darkness, but then a low rumble shook his dreams. The sound was like a thousand drums beating from beneath the earth. In the black void, a stairway of stone rose slowly, step by step, until it seemed to pierce the heavens. Mist curled along its sides, and above it loomed a vast shadow—serpentine, endless, wings stretching wider than mountains. Two golden eyes opened, staring down at him.

Soaring Dragon Peak…

The words weren't spoken aloud. They thundered directly inside his mind, echoing until his bones vibrated.

He reached out with his hand, but the stairs stretched far beyond his grasp. His body felt heavy, anchored. The dragon's roar tore through the skies, shaking everything apart.

His eyes snapped open.

"What was that?" Tian Lei mumbled. But then the drums sounded again, and after them came an announcement: "The first phase is over, those who passed, come out!"

The elder's voice thundered as Tian Lei stepped outside. He noticed others emerging from the hut-like houses as well. Looking around, he saw the thousands who had gathered before—yet now, only a few hundred remained.

The elder's gaze swept across the survivors. "You are the ones who have passed the first phase of the Soaring Dragon Peak Disciple Acceptance Trial. Now it is time for the second trial."

He raised his hand, and with a flick of his sleeve, thin manuals appeared, fluttering down into the hands of each participant.

"You have all been given the Roaming Dragon Spear Art cultivation book," the elder said, his voice like a hammer striking an anvil. "From this moment, you have one month to fully master this technique, and furthermore, to mold it into your own unique art by fusing it with your elemental affinity."

He lifted his spear, demonstrating a single movement. Flames coiled around the shaft like a living dragon, surging outward with destructive force. "I myself possess a flame affinity. Thus, my Roaming Dragon Spear Art has become the Roaming Dragon Spear Art: Flame Variant. Each of you must likewise incorporate your own affinity into the technique and birth a new variation."

From his other hand, he revealed a glowing white crystal, its surface shimmering with countless faint patterns. "This is a Spirit Stone of Insight. It will allow you to perceive and awaken the elemental affinity most suitable to your soul."

One by one, the disciples stepped forward, pressing their palms against the crystal. Each time, the stone blazed with light—sometimes faint, sometimes dazzling.

The elder's voice carried as he explained, "Affinities are graded from One Star to Ten Stars. The higher the stars, the greater your compatibility, and the deeper your future potential. A mere One Star affinity is barely enough to be called a cultivator's path. Five Stars is considered rare and excellent. Seven Stars and above… such talents are recorded in the annals of glory."

Gasps and murmurs rose as the stone shone with varying brilliance. Some youths beamed with joy at seeing four or five stars, while others lowered their heads in shame when only a single dim star appeared. But when, once in a while, the crystal erupted in six, seven, or even eight radiant stars, the crowd could not help but look with awe and envy.

The elder's lips curved faintly, though his eyes remained cold. "Remember this well—affinity is the root. Even the strongest techniques will collapse without solid roots. Now… let us see who among you carries the legacy of true dragons in their veins."

One youth stepped forward, his expression calm though his fists clenched behind his back. The moment his palm touched the Spirit Stone, a flicker of light emerged—three faint stars. He grimaced, but forced a smile as he stepped back.

Another disciple followed, her eyes shining with hope. The crystal flared brighter this time, revealing five glittering stars. Cheers rose from her peers, and she bowed deeply to the elder, her face flushed with pride.

Then came a tall, broad-shouldered boy. When he pressed his hand to the crystal, the stone erupted in golden brilliance—seven stars. The crowd roared in astonishment, their envy palpable. The elder gave a small nod. "A seedling worth nurturing."

As more disciples tested themselves, the courtyard buzzed with excitement and despair in equal measure. Each result shifted the rankings in their minds, separating the mediocre from the truly gifted.

Finally, after dozens had gone, whispers began to spread. Eyes turned toward the lone figure standing at the edge of the group.

"T-That's him… the one who completed the first phase easily."

"I heard he is from the Mist Azure Divine Land."

"Could it be he has some special Physique?"

The elder's gaze locked on Tian Lei, sharp and penetrating. He raised a hand, motioning. "You. Step forward. Let us see what sort of affinity you possess."

The murmurs grew louder, a current of expectation and skepticism winding together.

Tian Lei exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing as he walked toward the glowing Spirit Stone.

The crystal pulsed faintly, as if already reacting to his approach.

The moment Tian Lei placed his palm upon the Spirit Stone, silence fell.

Instead of the gentle glow that had greeted others, the crystal convulsed with violent light. Shadows and radiance warred across its surface, cracking lines of black and silver racing through its body as though it could not contain what it was sensing.

Gasps erupted from the disciples.

"Wh-what's happening?!"

"Why is it trembling like that?"

The elder's eyes narrowed. His expression, calm until now, flickered with sharp interest.

Then—

BOOM!

The crystal exploded with a blinding glare. Above its surface, stars appeared—ten, perfect and blazing, darker than night itself yet ringed with an eerie luminescence.

"Ten… Ten Stars! Death Affinity!" someone cried out in disbelief.

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